Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Taking a Closer Look at the Aptera 2e


When I was a young kid, I seriously believed that after 20 years, cars would start flying. Although most cars these days are still far from being air-borne, seeing the developmental Aptera 2e tells you that it’s no longer that far. In fact, it’s even better because it addresses the basic issue in the automotive industry today: fuel consumption.

Basically, the Aptera 2e does not look like any typical car at all. The thing is, if you think that the Smart Fortwo is already unorthodox, wait until you see the Aptera 2e. It doesn’t look like a car at all, perhaps it’s closer to a motorcycle more than anything else.

This car is already at the final stages of its development and it will probably take a few more tweaks before Aperta Motors launches it. For starters, the Aptera 2e has a fuel efficiency that is pegged at a ridiculous 300 mpg, which will make it the most fuel-efficient car in history.

Although far from being a Tesla Roadster, the Aptera 2e can accelerate from 0-60 mph in less than 10 seconds and its manufacturer claims that it can reach a top speed of 85 mph. Those numbers are far from amazing, but you don’t need a car that torches the road if you’re going to do some city driving. The great thing about this car is its price and that’s because the electric prototype costs around 27,000 USD, while the hybrid is priced at 30,000 USD. Now that’s far from really expensive, but it’s just like buying a new Ford or Chrysler that eat gas like there’s no tomorrow.

Performance-wise, the Aptera 2e is expected to consume around 80 watt-hours per mile. Basically, its strange shape and look is due to extensive optimization in lessening its drag coefficient. Aside from that, it has low-resistance tires that are built for city driving more than anything else. The direct influence of the style and design comes from Volkswagen one-liter car that is expected to be released in 2010.

The Aptera 2e is different to other cars because it has three wheels instead of four. The front wheels are designed for steering, while the rear wheel is connected to the electric motor. When it comes to batteries, the Aptera 2e uses Lithium phosphate batteries that you can find in front of the driver seat. The great thing about this car is that it will only take you 2-4 hours of recharge time, unlike other electric cars that need at least 12 hours to start going.

The plug-in version or the Aptera 2h has a water-cooled EFI engine that has a tank capacity of at least 12 gallons. Compared to the Aptera 2e, its hybrid brother can manage to reach 600-700 miles of traveling.

When it comes to the interior, both the Aptera 2e and Aptera 2h can allow two adults and a child in the middle. The cargo space isn’t that much, but it isn’t laughable either and that’s because it has almost 16-cubic feet of available space. In addition, it uses LED running and interior lights to reduce power consumption.

It also has basic entertainment features such as a radio, DVD player, and a GPS system that are controlled through the dashboard. With these amazing features and the need for more fuel-efficient cars, the Aptera 2e will be a big hit when it is released. Aside from that, it will redefine how cars look and even though it can’t fly; it reduces energy consumption by leaps and bounds.

Aptera 2E

Aptera 2E


Aptera 2E

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